Many of our community partners have research projects ready to be taken up by students, faculty, and research teams. We are glad to facilitate an introduction, aid in research planning, design, and follow through.
By way of example, Chico Housing Action Team (CHAT) would like to explore the following research questions:
Evaluation of Everhart Village
Research questions:
- Is Everhart Village working to meet the needs of formerly unhoused individuals with mental health needs?
- How is the built environment impacting residents experience and ability to stay stably housed?
- How are case management services impacting residents experience and ability to stay stably housed?
- How is the relationship and proximity to Butte County Crisis Services impacting residents experience, mental health, and wellness?
Disciplinary opportunities:
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Anthropology
Evaluation of Furniture Warehouse Program
Research question:
- How is the furniture program working to ensure CHAT staff and residents have adequate furniture to set-up new rooms/homes?
Purpose:
- Document the processes of the all-volunteer program so that this program could be replicated by other organizations.
Disciplinary opportunities:
- Interior Design
- Construction Management
- Business
Food Distribution Program
Research question:
- How is the food program working to meet the needs of residents of CHAT houses?
Purpose:
- Document the processes of the all-volunteer program so that this program could be replicated by other organizations.
Disciplinary opportunities:
- Nutrition
- Public Health
- Social Work
Community partnerships
Research question:
- What community partnerships are in place, formally and informally, and how do those impact the experience for residents to stay stably housed?
- Are there operational differences between those agencies with whom CHAT has an MOU versus those who do not?
- What is the utility of Coordinated Entry and how is it impacting the work of CHAT and the ability of the organization to best meet the needs of the unhoused population?
Purpose:
- Build upon previous research (by MPA student Jaclyn Noble) mapping current services and areas of need, by exploring how and when community organizations work together to serve unhoused community members, as well as opportunities for additional collaboration.
Disciplinary opportunities:
- Public Administration
- Social Work
- Business
- Sociology
- Psychology
Hope Village
Research questions:
- Is Hope Village working to meet the needs of formerly unhoused veterans?
- How is the private/public partnership working or not working in terms of a smooth provision of services and support for formerly unhoused veterans?
Disciplinary opportunities:
- Public Administration
- Social Work
- Business
- Sociology
- Psychology
Shared Housing Model
Research questions:
- With which residents is the shared housing model most effective and what are the primary benefits to residents?
- With which residents is the shared housing model least effective and what are the primary barriers to success?
Disciplinary opportunities:
- Public Administration
- Social Work
- Business
- Sociology
- Psychology
More ideas
Additional potential community partners include True North Housing Alliance, Home & Heart, and Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP).
Please contact Jennifer Wilking and/or Susan Roll for more information on these research opportunities.
